Clarissa Gonzales
Edinburg,TX
Summary
Empathetic professional with a solid foundation in social work. Known for strong communication and crisis intervention skills, contributing to improved patient support and family education within the healthcare system.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Hospice Social Worker Intern
Amara Hospice
Edinburg, Texas
03.2026 - Current
- Conducted patient assessments to determine psychosocial needs and support requirements.
- Coordinated care plans with interdisciplinary teams for comprehensive patient support.
- Provided emotional support to patients and families during end-of-life transitions.
- Educated families on available resources and coping strategies for hospice care.
- Documented patient interactions and care plans in electronic health records accurately.
- Advocated for patients' rights and preferences within the healthcare system.
- Attended continuing education seminars related to hospice social work practices.
- Consulted with physicians regarding changes in a patient's condition or prognosis.
- Educated families about available options regarding pain management strategies or advanced directives while respecting cultural diversity beliefs around death and dying.
- Assisted patients and their families in accessing community resources such as financial aid or bereavement services.
- Provided aftercare follow-up services following discharge from hospice services.
- Monitored patient progress over time through home visits or telephone calls.
- Advised caregivers on how to cope with the physical and emotional demands of caring for a terminally ill person.
- Participated in quality assurance programs by collecting data on outcomes associated with interventions provided.
- Managed caseloads effectively by prioritizing tasks based upon urgency level.
Registered Behavior Technician
Empower Behavioral Health
Edinburg, Texas
09.2024 - 01.2026
- Delivered one-on-one support to clients with behavioral challenges.
- Implemented individualized treatment plans under supervision of a licensed behavior analyst.
- Observed client behavior and documented progress in daily logs.
- Assisted in developing strategies for improving social skills and communication.
- Collaborated with team members to ensure consistency in care approaches.
- Conducted data collection on client behaviors for program evaluation.
- Tracked data and monitored progress of student's goals and objectives.
- Provided direct one-on-one instruction to children with autism in a variety of settings.
- Instructed staff members on how to implement behavioral interventions and utilize positive reinforcement strategies effectively.
- Conducted Functional Behavior Assessments to identify target behaviors and develop strategies for reduction and elimination.
- Demonstrated excellent organizational skills while managing multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Collaborated with doctors, psychologists or therapists in working with patient treatments.
Crisis Counselor
Crisis Text Line
New York, New York
06.2024 - 12.2024
- Provided emotional support to individuals in crisis through text-based communication.
- Assessed needs and concerns of clients to determine appropriate resources and interventions.
- Maintained confidentiality while documenting interactions with clients in the system.
- Collaborated with team members to ensure consistent support and service delivery.
- Utilized active listening techniques to validate client feelings and experiences effectively.
- Engaged in ongoing training to enhance crisis intervention skills and knowledge.
- Developed rapport with clients to foster trust and open communication during crises.
- Responded promptly to incoming messages, prioritizing urgent situations effectively.
- Provided emotional support and guidance to individuals dealing with a variety of life issues, including grief, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, trauma and relationship conflicts.
- Developed safety plans to minimize crisis risk and intervene with specific procedures.
- Assisted clients in identifying resources available within the community such as housing assistance or employment opportunities.
- Offered counseling and stabilization support to reintroduce calm in crisis situations.
- Maintained accurate records of all client interactions using an electronic health record system.
- Provided referrals to external providers when necessary for further evaluation or treatment.
- Attended trainings related to evidence-based practices in order to stay up-to-date on new developments in the field.
- Conducted assessments to determine the appropriate level of care for clients in crisis.
Customer Service Representative
HEB
San Antonio, Texas
11.2012 - 07.2024
- Assisted customers in locating products and answering inquiries efficiently.
- Managed returns and exchanges while adhering to store policies.
- Provided product recommendations based on customer needs and preferences.
- Handled cash transactions accurately at the register.
- Collaborated with team members to maintain a clean and organized store environment.
- Resolved customer complaints by listening actively and offering solutions promptly.
- Trained new staff on customer service protocols and store operations effectively.
- Utilized point-of-sale systems for processing sales and managing inventory updates.
- Answered customer inquiries and provided accurate information regarding products and services.
- Provided excellent customer service to resolve customer complaints in a timely manner.
- Promoted high customer satisfaction by resolving problems with knowledgeable and friendly service.
- Remained calm and professional in stressful circumstances and effectively diffused tense situations.
- Developed strong customer relationships to encourage repeat business.
- Developed strong relationships with customers by providing personalized assistance and support.
- Assisted customers with product selection, ordering, billing, returns, exchanges and technical support.
- Resolved complex problems by working with other departments to provide solutions that meet customer needs.
- Performed administrative tasks such as filing paperwork, updating databases and generating reports.
- Tracked orders from start to finish to ensure timely delivery of goods or services.
- Identified areas of improvement in customer service processes and suggested changes accordingly.
- Developed positive relationships with customers through friendly interactions.
- Provided exceptional customer service to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Resolved customer complaints promptly and efficiently.
- Identified opportunities for upselling additional products or services based on customer needs.
- Implemented innovative methods for streamlining the customer service process.
Education
Master of Social Work - Child And Family Services
Our Lady of The Lake University
San Antonio, TX08-2026
Bachelor of Social Work - Social Work
Our Lady of The Lake University
San Antonio, TX12-2024
Skills
- Patient advocacy
- Care coordination
- Crisis intervention
- Crisis handling
- Patient assessment
- End-of-life care
- Palliative care
- Grief counseling
- Emotional support
- Family support
- Geriatric care
- Psychosocial assessments
- Behavioral assessment
- Problem-solving abilities
- Care planning
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Case management
- Referral coordination
- Community resource mapping
- Community resource knowledge
- Telehealth proficiency
- Documentation skills
- Data collection
- Data analysis
- Behavioral analysis
- Functional behavior assessment
- Discrete trial training
- Intervention plans
- Social skills development
- Effective communication
- Active listening
- Nonviolent communication
- Collaborative teamwork
- Collaborative approach
- Ethical practice
- Patient confidentiality
- Empathy display
- De-escalation techniques
- Problem-solving abilities
- Relationship building
- Inbound call management
- Psychosocial support
- Communication strategies
- Registered behavior technician (RBT)
- Intake assessment
- Registered behavior technician (RBT)
- Intake assessment
Certification
- MSW Licensure expected August 2026
Timeline
Hospice Social Worker Intern
Amara Hospice
03.2026 - Current
Registered Behavior Technician
Empower Behavioral Health
09.2024 - 01.2026
Crisis Counselor
Crisis Text Line
06.2024 - 12.2024
Customer Service Representative
HEB
11.2012 - 07.2024
Master of Social Work - Child And Family Services
Our Lady of The Lake University
Bachelor of Social Work - Social Work
Our Lady of The Lake University